COPYRIGHT © 2025 50/50 WOMEN ON BOARDS
Janet Malzone is an experienced CEO, operations leader and not-for-profit board director who has spent her career in professional services helping companies deliver quality financial reporting to grow their businesses. She has been dedicated to corporate governance through her work as a public company auditor, reporting directly to Audit Committees, and has accumulated over 30 years of board service. Her extensive experience ranges from a results driven leader driving operational efficiency and executing financial oversight to serving as a strategic voice on Audit, Governance and Strategy Committees. She is well-positioned to offer both a broad view of shifting business landscapes and has the ability to quickly synthesize and communicate complex issues given her international experience and creative flair.
Janet is an esteemed member of multiple boards, currently serving on the audit committee of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and as treasurer of the Economic Club of Chicago. Additionally, she plays a pivotal role at Grant Thornton International Limited, serving on its Governance and Compensation Committees. Her commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through her work on the Governance Board of the Center for Audit Quality and as a member of the Florida State University’s Accounting Professional Advisory Board.
Janet has over 35 years of experience in public accounting, audit and assurance. She has led the growth engine of Grant Thornton US through her role as the leader of Audit & Assurance and CEO of Grant Thornton LLP. She is responsible for P&L, operations management, strategic planning and financial oversight. During her time at the helm from 2021 to 2025, she grew Grant Thornton’s $600M Audit & Assurance practice to over $1B. Most recently, she drove the practice through a private equity transaction and implemented the firm’s alternative practice structure to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. She worked tirelessly addressing the regulatory demands and leading this transformational change — both for the practice and the firm — and within the industry itself.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 50/50 WOMEN ON BOARDS
Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.
Speakers include: Sita Lowman, Nithya Das, Suresh Sharma, Byron Loflin
As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.
Speakers include: Gaby Sulzberger, David Cahoy, Rachael Coffey, Eduardo Gallego
As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.
Speakers include: Titi Cole, Mia Mends
This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.
Speakers include: Rodger Baker